Last



Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT ,OFFICE LAST Harold Goodman,Peabody, and Earl J. McGown,

, Lynn, Mass. Application March 18, 1940, Serial No. 324,464

1 Claim. I ((112-136) This invention relates to hinged lasts and has forits object the production of a single spring element serving as aconnector between the two parts of the last, which element will holdsaid parts rigidly together when either in extended or shortenedposition while permitting slight relative movement of said parts towardand from each other at intermediate points.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing. I

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred formthereof is illustrated in the drawing, this form having been found togive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understoodthat the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists canbe variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described except as required by the scope of theappended claim.

Of the drawing Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of atwo part last, the two parts of which are connected by a single springelement embodying the principles of the present invention, the lastbeing shown extended.

Figure 2 represents a similar section showing the last shortened.

Figure 3 represents a horizontal section of the portion of the last online 3, 3 on Fig. 1.

Figure 4 represents a section of the fore part of the last on line 4, 4on Fig. 1.

Figure 5 represents a section of the heel part on line 5, 5 on Fig. 1,and

Figure 6 represents an elevation of the spring element removed from thelast.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures ofthe drawing.

In the drawing, I0 is the fore part of a divided last having formed inits rear face a curved depression I I extending transversely thereof.

The heel part l2 has formed on its front face a semi-cyclindricalprojection I3 adapted to be positioned in the depression I I and contactwith the wall thereof.

The depression II is semi-cylindrical and has a radius slightlyexceeding that of the semicylindrical projection I3.

Owing to the differences in the radii of the projection I3 anddepression I I, the outer surface of the projection I3 will not contactwith the surface of the depression II at the top and bottom thereof.

The fore part I0 is provided with a vertical slot or recess I4 in itsrear end which is alined-with a similar slot or recess I5 formed'inthefront end of the heel part I2.

The side walls of the slots or recesses I4 and I5 are perfectly flat andparallel to each other.

Extending transversely' of the slot or recess I4 is a cylindrical pin I6embedded in the fore part I0 and in the heel part I2 is anothercylindrical pin I1 extending transversely of the slot or recess I5.

Mounted on these pins I6 and IT and disposed within the slots orrecesses I4 and I5 is a single spring element I8, as shown in Fig. 6 ofthe drawing. V I

This spring element I8 is bent upwardly in the center thereof asindicated at I9 in Fig. 6 of the drawing, and the opposite ends 20thereof are bent upwardly parallel to the surfaces H of said springelement.

Between the surfaces 2| and the upwardly bent ends 20, the pins 16 andI! are adapted to be disposed.

This spring element I8 is of the same thickness as the width of therecesses I4 and I5, and is provided on its opposite faces with flatsurfaces 22 which bear against the side walls of the recesses I4 and I5when the last is being shortened or lengthened.

These fiat surfaces 22 contacting with the walls of the recesses I4 andI5 retain the two parts I0 and I2 of the last in proper alinement at alltimes.

The spring element I8 is highly tempered and notwithstanding the size ofsaid spring element, it is sufiiciently resilient to permit the movementof one last part I0 relative to the other last part l2.

When the last is straightened as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing aportion of theperiphery of the semi-cylindrical projection I3 will beheld in rigid contact with the central portion of the depressions I Iand the center line between the pins I6 and I1 will be considerablybelow the axis 23 of the projection I3.

When shortening the last by moving the fore part I0 about the axis 23and, relatively to the heel part I2, said axis 23 must move toward thebottom of the last and pass across the center line between the centersof the pins IB and I1. Owing to this center line between the pins I5 and11 being well below the axis 23 of the projection I3 when the last isshortened as shown in Fig. 2, the fore part I2 can be moved about saidaxis 23 in order to lengthen the last only by applying great pressurethereto.

position as indicated in Fig. 1.

As a consequence, the two parts Ill and I2 of the last are connected bya single element in such a manneruthat the last is very rigid when ineither shortened or extended position. ,It will be noted that uponbreaking the last when in its extended position the last willimmediately commence to shorten.

The projection 13 of the heel part l2 resting in the depression I I ofthe fore part forms a knuckle joint.- I I 'Itis quite obviousthat when ashoe is on a last and is being operated upon in the manufacture thereof,it is very. essential that the last should have a great degree ofrigidity and this result is produced very effectually by the .methcdherein shown and described. 2

It isbelieved to be novel to connect thev two parts I!) and. I2 of thelast by means of a single spring'element dispensing with otherinstrumentalities which'have been found necessary in otherconstructionsof connecting means between the two parts of the last.

Owing to the increased size of the spring element l8 over similar springelements heretofore in :use, it has been found an advantage to havepoint and there has been liability to breakage,

necessitating the replacing of the broken spring elements with newspring elements.

The spring element I8 is hardened at 1500 F., then quenched in oil, andthen tempered at 850 F. for two hours.

By means of the construction herein shown and described a very strongtwo part last is provided Which is capable of meeting hard usage and atthe same time owing to the dispensing of many other instrumentalitiesheretofore in use the last is made at a minimum expense.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the inventionwill be understood Without further description.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

A last having two parts arranged for movement relatively to eachotherabout a knuckle joint and each part provided with a relatively widevertical recess with fiat parallel side walls; a pin extendingtransversely of each recess and spaced from the axis of said knucklejoint; and a sole connector within and contacting with the side walls

